Former Barnsley striker Obbi Oulare experienced racial abuse during a recent Challenger Pro League match with Deinze while playing for the Belgian team Lierse SK. According to the Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Oulare, who had also played for Watford in England, was subjected to this abuse by his own team’s fans during their loss. In response to this incident, the club is using images from the game to identify the individuals responsible and take appropriate action.
In a statement released by Lierse on Monday, the club expressed deep regret over the incident and vowed to locate and punish those involved using the available camera footage. They emphasized that racism has no place in their club and that their stadium, known as The Lisp, should be an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
The club also noted their disappointment with the match’s outcome but stressed that it should never excuse racist behavior.
Oulare, who signed a two-year contract with Lierse in June, had previously joined the team from Standard Liege in the summer of 2021 on a three-year deal. However, he had limited playing time during the 2021-22 season, making only two brief substitute appearances. In January 2022, he went on loan to Belgian second-tier side Molenbeek and continued to play for them in the 2022-23 season.